As DSACEUR, Lieutenant General Everard will work on NATO’s military planning, policy and force generation and will as deputise for the current SACEUR, US General Curtis Scaparrotti.

The Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

The fact that a Briton holds such a senior military role underlines our leading role in NATO.

With recent commitments to 500 troops in Estonia, more troops in Afghanistan and the renewal our nuclear deterrent, we’ve never been more committed to the NATO alliance.

With a long and distinguished military career, including deployments in Bosnia, Germany and Iraq, Lieutenant General Everard currently holds the role of Commander Field Army, in charge of the Army’s deployable divisions and responsible for their force protection and generation for operations. He will be promoted to General and will succeed General Sir Adrian Bradshaw KCB OBE in March 2017.

Everard’s appointment comes at a crucial time for the Alliance, following a successful Summit in Warsaw earlier in July. Britain announced it would deploy around 500 soldiers to Estonia in early 2017 in order to provide further reassurance to allies and deter any potential threats. The UK will also lead NATO’s multinational quick reaction spearhead force in 2017, providing around 3000 UK troops along with tanks and armoured fighting vehicles.

Lieutenant General Sir James Everard said:

It’s an honour to take up this role at such an important time for NATO.

The Warsaw Summit took important decisions on strengthening NATO’s collective defence and deterrence. So this will be a busy time and I am very much looking forward to making a contribution as DSACEUR.